The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has raised serious concerns over the alarming deterioration in waste management practices at the Bandhwari landfill, located between Gurugram and Faridabad.
The tribunal has called out civic bodies from both cities for their persistent inaction and failure to control the surge in legacy waste, terming the situation “grossly deficient.” In a strongly worded directive dated April 15 and made public this week, the Principal Bench of the NGT observed that municipal corporations of both Gurugram and Faridabad have not only failed to implement a comprehensive plan to treat existing waste but have also contributed to its unchecked accumulation.
The tribunal highlighted that despite previous affidavits promising action, the quantity of unprocessed legacy waste at the Bandhwari site has actually increased by nearly 30% within four months—from 8.84 lakh metric tonnes in December 2024 to 11.32 lakh metric tonnes by March 2025. The bench noted this rise as a sign of “worsening environmental neglect.” Experts from the tribunal pointed out that while earlier plans had proposed a waste-to-energy facility, the latest affidavits now indicate a shift to a torrefaction-based approach aimed at producing charcoal-like fuel by 2027. The absence of immediate, intermediate, and operational waste processing alternatives until then raises critical concerns around environmental sustainability and public health risks.
In a further indictment of the authorities’ handling of the crisis, the NGT directed the Haryana State Pollution Control Board to submit a detailed affidavit within six weeks. This affidavit must disclose the levying and recovery status of environmental compensation from the municipal corporations, a measure intended to hold local authorities financially accountable for ecological damage and negligence. Independent environmental analysts assert that the Bandhwari landfill—already a flashpoint for civic dissent and public outcry—has now become a symbol of urban mismanagement. Situated in close proximity to the Aravalli biodiversity zone, the site not only threatens natural habitats but also contributes to air and groundwater pollution in the region.
Calls for adopting decentralised solid waste management systems have grown stronger, especially with experts advocating for a shift away from centralised dumping to more localised processing methods. Such approaches, they argue, are crucial for cities aiming to reduce their carbon footprint and create sustainable, circular economies. In the wake of the tribunal’s observations, environmental groups have demanded an immediate halt to additional dumping at the site and an independent audit of the waste-handling operations undertaken so far. They warn that unless there is a drastic course correction, Gurugram and Faridabad risk becoming cautionary tales in the narrative of India’s smart city ambitions.
Civic officials have, so far, maintained that the torrefaction initiative—though delayed—is intended to reduce the volume of legacy waste and turn waste into useful by-products. However, questions persist around the project’s viability and timelines, especially given the chronic delays and procedural hurdles in the past. The NGT’s order may now serve as a wake-up call not only for Haryana’s urban administrators but for other rapidly urbanising cities across the country. With increasing pressure to adhere to zero-waste and carbon-neutral development models, there is a renewed urgency to reform how municipal solid waste is handled—before landfills grow from local inconveniences into national crises.
As Gurugram and Faridabad race against time, citizens, civic bodies and state regulators will need to collaborate on transparent, timely, and sustainable waste management solutions that prioritise public well-being over bureaucratic complacency.
Also Read : https://urbanacres.in/bengaluru-clears-3570-tons-of-waste-in-sweeping-cleanliness-operation/
